Chapter: 1116

Before he could finish, Bethany clamped a hand over his mouth.

“Stop right there. Jonathan and I are no longer together."

“yihat?"

“So please, let's not link us any longer. It only leads to rumors. We're here to focus on work, and that's what should matter."

Colt stood there, completely baffled, for a lengthy moment before he managed to speak.

"Ms. Holt, is there someone even better than Mr. Bates vying for your attention?"

Bethany was torn between amusement and frustration at his question.

"No, I'm not interested in any relationships at the moment."

"I understand! So, is it that Mr. Bates has been too preoccupied and has been neglecting you? Are you upset with him?" At the mention of Jonathan, Colt's eyes lit up. "Ms. Holt, it's truly a privilege to be in the same department as you! If I've overlooked your significance before or inadvertently offended you, I hope you'll overlook it."

Bethany mustered a strained smile.

She felt that Colt was inadvertently insulting her at that very moment .

He seemed to have completely missed her point.

"Let's drop it. We should get back to work."

“Sure thing, Mrs. Bates!"

Bethany was speechless. "Colt!"

Colt squinted his eyes and gave a knowing smile. "Take it easy, I've been navigating the corporate waters long enough to understand the boundaries. I promise, I'll only call you that in our private conversations."

Bethany found herself at a loss for words.

She trailed Colt into the conference room, locating her seat before clearing her throat with a series of discreet coughs.

The atmosphere in the room was informal, befitting an internal team meeting.

The participants engaged openly, exchanging ideas about the project with ease.

Initially, Bethany felt comfortable in the candid setting. Yet, as the discussion unfolded, her insights - sharpened by her mentor, Jonathan Bates — began to shine, earning frequent nods of approval from Colt. This visible recognition began to grate on Kiley, another team member, whose contributions seemed to fade into the background while Bethany's suggestions received unanimous nods.

The men in the room regarded Bethany with evident respect and admiration, which only fueled Kiley's growing resentment.

As the meeting wrapped up, Bethany headed back to her office, only to be greeted by a knock on her door shortly after settling in.

"Please, come in," she invited.